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RTL Group profit up despite revenue slide European broadcaster and producer RTL Group reported a 5% fall in revenue but a 22% surge in pre-tax profit for the third quarter. Revenue fell by 5% to €1.129m (US$1.693m), compared with €1.188m for the same period last year. However, the group, which produces shows such as Idols, The X Factor, Got Talent and Farmer Wants a Wife, said pre-tax profit was €92m, up 22.7% from €75m the previous year.  This was due to higher profit from the group's broadcasters including Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland; RTL Nederland; the UK's Five; and M6 Group and RTL Radio in France.Advertising sales for the quarter fell 5% to €1.13bn due to the decline of the TV ad markets across Europe. "Since September 2009, advertising bookings have been better in almost all of RTL Group's markets, compared with the first eight months of the year," the company said. "However, as there is no visibility for the rest of the year, the group remains cautious." RTL Group also said it is extending its online video services with the launch of catch-up TV services in Germany (Vox Now), France (W9 Replay) and Hungary (RTL Most). M6 Group complemented its offer with a new paid service, M6 VOD, which features premium content such as movies and season passes for popular TV series. RTL Group has 46 TV channels and 30 radio stations in 11 countries and is also active in rights trading, as well as content production worldwide. Jules Grant 10 Nov 2009 © C21 Media 2009 
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